ROME  People in Rome, Milan and other Italian cities on Sunday got around on public transportation, bicycles, on foot and even on horseback as car traffic was banned for several hours to lower air-pollution levels.

In Rome and Milan, however, fans going to the stadiums to watch soccer games were to be exempted from the ban, provided they could show a ticket if required.

In Rome, the ban started at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT), with Romans and tourists alike taking advantage of a sunny day and lack of traffic for walks, bike or horseback rides. The restriction, originally scheduled to last eight hours, eventually was cut to five hours.

In Milan, the country's financial capital, the ban went from 9 a.m. (0800GMT) to midday and then was to resume from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (1400 to 1700GMT).

Smaller cities such as Brescia, Bergamo and Como also adopted similar bans.

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Italian cities are trying to find ways to curb pollution levels by restricting use of private vehicles. Rome and Milan are testing a measure that bans cars with even- or odd-numbered license plates on alternate Thursdays.